Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 1:12 p.m.

1,000 evacuate as wildfire razes Oklahoma homes

GUTHRIE, Okla. — Firefighters worked through the night and into early Monday to battle a large wildfire that destroyed at least six homes and left one person dead after a controlled burn spread out of control in central Oklahoma.

The wildfire broke out Sunday afternoon near Guthrie and by 9 p.m. had burned an estimated 4 to 6 square miles of land as well as several homes, Guthrie Fire Department Chief Eric Harlow said. Aerial television footage shows the fire still burning at daybreak Monday and Harlow said the fire was about 75 percent contained.

About 1,000 people were evacuated from homes in the city about 35 miles north of Oklahoma City on Sunday, according to the fire department. Harlow said a 56-year-old man who did not leave was found dead in his home Sunday night.

The Guthrie Fire Department said six homes were destroyed and that the number of damaged or destroyed homes was expected to rise Monday. Fire department crews were assessing the fire and damage by helicopter at daybreak Monday.